Portable electric lighting fixture



14, 1945- D. J. BILLER 2,382,538

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Jan. 14, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q :2 m woe;

1945- D. J. BILLER PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTUhE Filed Jan. 14, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 shown turned under Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT o FFIC PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTING David J. Bins, St. Lou'i Brite Lighting, Inc., tion of Missouri 9 assignor to Day St. LOUIS, MO-, a corpor Application January 14 1943, Serial No.472,323 8 Claims. (01. 240-114) This invention relates to electric lighting fixtures, particularly portable fluorescent lighting fixtures. The invention has for its principal ob- Jects to provide a strong and durable, simple and efiicient portable fluorescent lightin'g fixture that can be suspended in an upright position or supported on and drawn or slid in a horizontal position without rolling; that will permit ready insertion and removal of the lamps and p them from iniury; that will direct the lightin t e.

desired direction and protect the eyes from the glare of the light; and that will provide a conc'ea-led mounting for the wiring and auxiliary devices of the lamp circuit. The invention consists in the portable electric lighting fixture and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable fiuorescent lighting fixture embodying my invention, the fixture being shown disposed horizontally and supported 'on' the longitudinal runners thereof,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, .showing the fixture suspended in an upright position by the hook at the upper end thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the hook'end of the fixture,

Fig. 4 is a similar view the fixture,

Fig. 5 is a part side elevational and part longitudinal sectional view ofthe fixture,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line" Ol of the opposite end of Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 1-! in Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on the line 8-! in Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a side view of the and eye shade of the fixture, r Fig. 10 is a perspective view of .a modified form of fixture, the bail memberof the fixture being combination reflector the fixture in reclining position,

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view, showing the modified form of fixture suspended in upright position by the ball at the upper end thereof and Fig. 12 is an enlarged elevgtional view of. the

bail end of the fixture, with the the position shown in Fig. 11.

The portable electric lighting fixture shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive,

bail member in one end thereof to supportcomprises a cylindricalcage' A, cup-shaped end caps B for said cage, and runners C for rotatably supporting said end caps. The cylindrical cage A comprises a tubular body including an openwork portionof woven wire screen I which forms the major part of the tube, and an imperforate plate 2, which forms the remaining portion thereof. The ends of the cage A are' closed by circular disks 3 having peripheral flanges 4 that fit within I to the opposed open ends ofthe cup-shaped end members or caps B and constitute closures therefor. The longitudinal wires of the screen I seat against the inner faces of the peripheral flanges l of the closure disks 3 and are welded thereto: and the spaced longitudinal edges of said screen have trim members I crimped thereover and welded to said closure disks;

A rigid tube or pipe. 1 extends longitudinally of the cylindrical cage A from end to end thereof thereby in the cup-shaped end members or caps 'B. The tube 1. like the screen I, is welded to the end closures 3, whereby said tube, screen and end closures are permanently connected together to form a unitary cage structure. l

The spaced apart edge trim strips 5 of the screen I of the cylindrical cage A define the longitudinal side edges of anopening I therein through which access is had to the interior-thereof. The longitudinal access opening 9 in the cage A is normally covered by the imperforate plate 2, which is detachably secured to said cage by means of spring clips I. that are welded or otherwise se-Q cured to the longitudinal edges of said plate and are adapted to snap over the edge trim strips l. Located inside the cage A are one or inore longi-v tudinally disposed tubular lamps II. that I ported at their ends in suitable lampholders II that are secured by screws I! to the concealed or lamp socket portions lIa disposed in openings It provided therefor in said disks. 1 j

The lamp circuit for the above fluorescent ing devices II, which are enclosed within the chambers I concealed faces of and are secured by screws I. to the the end closure disk 8, a combiriation control and starter switch I! mounted in one-of said chambers and having an operating knob l'la located exteriorly thereof, a plug-in cord ll extending into said chamber, and wires (not shown) running through and are secured by screws are supthe conduit 1 to said ballasts, said switch and the lampholders i2 in said chambers.

The runners C extend longitudinally of the fixture along one side thereof and have laterally curved converging end portions II that terminate in registering eyes 20 adapted to receive screws 2i for securing said eyes to the outer ends of the respective cup-shaped end caps B of the fixture. The screws 2| extend through the registering eyes or loops of the runners C and are threaded into suitable fittings 22 that are welded or otherwise permanently secured in central openings provided therefor in the outer ends of the respective end caps B, whereby the cage A, end caps and the parts enclosed therein may be rotated as a unit relative to said runners about the axes of said screws. The fixture is provided with a hook member 23 that is connected to one end thereof for swiveling movement relative thereto by means of the screw 2| at that end of said fixture.

By the arrangement described, the fixture may be supported on the runners C thereof and drawn or slid in horizontal position, the runners preventing the fixture from rolling sidewise. The fixture may also be suspended in an upright position by means of the swiveled hook 21 at one end thereof. The closure plate 2 serves as a refiector and as a shade; and in both horizontal and upright positions of the fixture, the entire body portion thereof may be rotated about the screws 2i as a center so as to locate the combined cover plate, reflector and eye shade 2 in a position that will reflect the light in the desired direction and protect the eyes from the glare of the light. The wires of the lamp circuit'are concealed within the end chambers 8 and in the wiring conduit I extending therei. tween; and the ballasts ll, control and starter switch i1 and other accessories are entirely concealed within said chambers. The combination cover, reflector and eye shade 2 may be readily detached from the fixture to permit removal and replacement of the lamps I i and the ballasts l5; and lampholders i2 are supported entirely by the closure disks 3 for inspection, repair or replacement merely by endwise separation of the cup members 3 from said closure disks.

The modified form of the fixture shown in Figs. 10, i1 and 12 is similar to the fixture hereinbefore described except that in the modified fixture construction the runners C and book 2! are dispensed with and a hinged and swiveled bail member 24 is substituted therefor. The ball member 24 has a hinge connection 25 with a plate 20 that is pivotally secured by means of a screw 21 to the outer end of one of the end caps B of the fixture, whereby said bail member may be swung beneath one end of the fixture to support the same in reclining position or may be swung outwardly in substantially endwise alinement with the fixture for suspending the same in an upright position. As shown in Fig. 12, the bail member 24 has a wide or fiared intermediate portion 240, which acts as a chock orclog to prevent rolling of the fixture, and a rebent free end portion 24b, which in the position shown in Fig. 11 constitutes a suspension hook for the fixture.

Obviously, the hereinbefore described portabl electric lighting fixture admits of considerable modification without .departing from the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A portable electric lighting fixture comprisassasss opening in the side thereof. a cover member for said opening, closures for the ends of said tube, caps secured to said end closures and cooperating therewith to form chambers at the ends of said tube, a wiring conduit extending from end closure to end closure inside said tube and opening into said chambers, lampholders located in said chaming a light transmitting tube having an access bers and sustained by said end closures and having lamp socket portions opening through said end closures into said tube, ballast members located in said chambers and sustained by said end closures, and runners extending longitudinally of said fixture and supporting said end caps for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said lamp enclosing tube.

2. A portable electric lighting fixture comprising a cylindrical lamp enclosing cage including a wire screen forming a portion of said cage and a removable cover, shade and reflector member forming the remaining portion thereof, closures for the ends of said cage, cup-shaped caps separably secured to said end closures and cooperating therewith to form chambers at the ends of said cage, a wiring conduit extending from end closure to end closure inside said cage and opening into said chambers, lampholders located in said chambers and sustained by said end closures and having lamp socket portions opening into said cage, ballast members located in said chambers and sustained by said end closures, and runners extending longitudinally of said fixture and supporting said end caps for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said lamp enclosing tube.

3. A portable electric lighting fixture comprising a lamp enclosing cage including a cylindrical light transmitting tube having an access opening in the side thereof through which a lamp may be inserted in and removed from said tube, a cover member for said opening, closures for the ends of said tube having peripheral flanges secured thereto, caps separably secured to the peripheral flanges of said end closures and cooperating therewith to form chambers at the ends of said cage, lampholders located in said chambers and sustained entirely by said end closures and having lamp socket portions opening through said end closures into said cage, runners extending longitudinally of said fixture and supporting said end caps for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said lamp enclosing tube, and a supporting hook secured to one of said end caps.

4. A portable electric lighting fixture comprising a lamp enclosing cage including a wire screen tube having a longitudinal access opening in the side thereof through which a tubular lamp may be inserted and removed sidewise, trim strips secured to said screen and defining the edges of said opening, closures for the ends of said tube, a cover member for said opening, cup-shaped caps secured to said end closures and cooperating therewith to form chambers at the ends of said cage, and lampholders located in said chambers and sustained by said end closures and having lamp socket portions opening into said cage and adapted to support said lamp therein, said cover member constituting a refiector and eye shade and having spring fastener members adapted for snap engagement with said trim strips.

5. A portable electric lighting fixture comprising a lamp enclosing cage including a wire screen tube having a longitudinal access opening in the side thereof through which a tubular lamp may be inserted and removed sidewise, trim strips assasss secured to said screen and defining the edges of said opening, closures for the ends of said tube,

- a cover member for said opening, cup-shaped ball member being adapted and arranged to swing alongside of said cap to support the fixture in a reclining position and to prevent the same from rolling sidewise in such position.

6. A portable electric lighting fixture comprising a lamp enclosing cage including a wire screen tube having a longitudinal access opening in the side thereof through which a tubular lamp may be inserted and removed sidewise, trim strips secured to said screen and defining the edges of said opening, closures for the ends of said tube,

a cover member for said opening, cup-shared caps secured to said end closures and cooperating therewith to form chambers at the ends of said cage, and lampholders located in said chambers and sustained by said end closures and having lamp socket portions opening into-said cage and adapted tos'upport said lamp therein, said cover member constituting a reflector and eye shade and having spring fastener members adapted for snap engagement with said trim strips, and means secured tosaid fixture for supporting it on its side and ior preventing itfrom rolling sidewise in such supported position.

7. A portable electric lighting fixture comprising a light transmitting tube with closed chamhere at the ends thereof, lampholders located in said chambers and having sockets opening into the ends of said tube for supporting a tubular lamp therein, said tube having a longitudinal access opening in the side thereof through which said lamp maybe inserted and removed sidewise, a member secured to said tube for covering the opening therein, said member constituting a reflector and eye shade, and means secured to said fixture for supporting it on its side and for preventing it from rolling sidewise in such supported position, said means comprising runners extending longitudinally of said fixture and supporting the same for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said tube.

8. A portable-electric lighting fixture comprising a lamp enclosing cage including a wire screen tube having a longitudinal access opening in the side thereof through which a tubular lamp may be inserted and removed sidewise, trim strips secured to said screen and defining the edges of said opening, closures for the ends of said tube. a cover member for said opening, cup-shaped caps secured to said end closures and cooperating 7 therewith to form chambers at the ends of said cage, and lampholders located in said chambers and sustained by said end closures and having lamp socket portions opening into said cage and adapted to support said lamp therein, said cover member constituting a reflector and eye shade and having spring fastener members adapted for snap engagement with said trim strips, and means secured to said fixture for supporting it on its side and for preventing it from rolling sidewise in such supported position, said means comprising a bail member connected to one end of said fixture to swing alongside thereof to support the same in a reclining position and against sidewise rolling in such position.

DAVID J. nnuia. 

